Ikegami Masashi remained in the position of receiving the jade pendant, his face frozen in disbelief. Starting from his fingertips, a layer of blue ice crystals spread at a visible speed, covering his entire body in the blink of an eye.

"Click."

With a soft sound, the ice-sculpted body shattered into countless crystal fragments, scattering across the ground. Only the head remained intact, rolling to Mu Xiaoxiao's feet, its wide-open eyes staring directly at the remaining elders.

"Sorry, my hand slipped." Mu Xiaoxiao bent down to pick up the head, gently brushing away the ice shards as if it were a work of art. "Consider this my little gift to Miss Ling."

Misaki Ikegami's legs went weak, and she bit her lip hard to keep from screaming. She watched as Mu Xiaoxiao casually placed her uncle's head on the altar, her movements as gentle as if she were setting out tea sets.

"Let me reiterate." Mu Xiaoxiao patted non-existent dust off her hands. "From today onwards, Chishang Ling is your new family head. She will lead the Chishang family to unify the ancient martial arts world of R Country." She looked around at everyone, a sweet smile on her lips. "Now, those who wish to follow the new family head, stand on the left; those who do not, stand on the right—don't worry, there's no forcing anyone."

The hall was deathly silent, save for the heavy breathing that rose and fell. Misaki Ikegami's fingernails dug deeply into her palms, and blood dripped from between her fingers onto the carpet, spreading into a dark red flower.

"I'll count to three." Mu Xiaoxiao had somehow produced a butterfly knife, deftly twirling it between her fingers. "One..."

"Witch!" A bearded elder suddenly sprang to his feet, his katana aimed straight for Mu Xiaoxiao's heart. "Avenge the patriarch!"

The other three elders also attacked simultaneously, blocking Mu Xiaoxiao's escape route from different angles. They were all top experts of the Chishang family, and their teamwork was excellent. Even a Xiantian realm expert would find it difficult to escape unscathed from this attack.

Mu Xiaoxiao didn't even lift her eyelids.

\"two......\"

She snapped her fingers lightly.

The four elders who had rushed forward suddenly froze in mid-air, as if they had crashed into an invisible wall. Their faces still bore a ferocious killing intent, but their bodies began to emit an eerie blue light from within.

\"three.\"

As the last number fell, the four bodies exploded simultaneously, but not in a scene of carnage—countless blue crystal fragments bloomed like fireworks, scattering in the air and eventually piling up on the ground into four small crystal clusters. Sunlight streamed through the windows, refracting the crystal fragments into a dreamlike halo, breathtakingly beautiful.

"Does anyone else want to choose the right side?" Mu Xiaoxiao asked, tilting her head, her voice as sweet as honey.

The remaining elders, as if their spines had been ripped out, knelt down one after another. Misaki Ikegami was the last to kneel, her knees slamming heavily onto the floor.

"Very good." Mu Xiaoxiao nodded in satisfaction. "Miss Ling will officially return in three days. I hope to see a... united Ikegami family then."

She walked towards the door, then suddenly turned back as if remembering something: "Oh, right, don't touch those crystal clusters." She lightly tapped the nearest one with her finger, "People will die."

As Mu Xiaoxiao's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, suppressed sobs gradually rose from within the hall. Ikegami Misaki swayed as she stood up and walked towards her uncle's head on the offering table. She reached out tremblingly, but was forced back by a bone-chilling coldness just before she touched it—the head was still covered with a thin layer of blue ice.

"Miss Misaki..." An elderly elder slumped to the ground. "What should we do?"

Misaki Ikegami looked out of the hall. The blue mist on the back mountain had dissipated, but the sky had taken on an unnatural indigo hue, as if it had been polluted by some force.

"Prepare the welcoming ceremony." Her voice was unexpectedly calm. "To welcome our...new head of the household."

After everyone had left with heavy steps, Misaki Ikegami remained alone in the hall. She knelt before the four crystal clusters and took out an ancient bronze mirror from her kimono sleeve—a life-saving item left to her by her mother, capable of seeing through all illusions.

The moment the mirror reflected onto the crystal cluster, Misaki almost dropped it—the faces of the four elders were clearly visible inside the crystal cluster, their mouths agape as if screaming, yet no sound came out.

The lanterns of the izakaya swayed gently in the night breeze, distorting the projection of the three characters "Yamazaki-ya" into strange shapes. Mu Xiaoxiao pushed open the creaking wooden door, and a wave of warm yellow light and noise rushed towards her.

Her current appearance was completely different from that of the ruthless killer from the Ikegami family—shoulder-length hair dyed chestnut brown, round-framed glasses, a white knit sweater paired with a plaid skirt, looking exactly like a college student. Even her gait had changed, with a deliberate awkwardness, like a girl who had just learned to wear high heels.

In the corner, Aya Ikegami sat alone at a table for four. The sake in her hand was empty, yet she remained motionless, holding the cup up. Under the lamplight, the lines of her fair neck were as graceful as a swan's, yet they possessed an unnatural, cold pallor.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Mu Xiaoxiao slid into the seat opposite her, her voice light and cheerful as if it were a casual get-together with her best friends.

Aya Ikegami slowly raised her head. At that moment, the light bulb in the izakaya seemed to flicker as if the voltage was unstable. A red light flickered in her eyes, then quickly disappeared into the depths of her dark pupils.

"The Chishang family's situation has been resolved." Mu Xiaoxiao covered her mouth with the menu. "You'll take over in three days; the procedures are all arranged."

Aya Ikegami nodded gently: "I understand." Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

The waiter brought hot towels and ice water. Mu Xiaoxiao smiled sweetly and ordered grilled chicken skewers and sake. Only after the waiter had walked away did she continue, "Don't forget, everything you have today is thanks to the organization."

These words made Aya Ikegami's fingers tighten slightly as she held the glass. The water droplets that had condensed on the glass slid down her fingertips and formed a small puddle on the table.

"I understand." She raised her head, the red light in her eyes lasting longer this time. "Report back to the organization, unify the ancient martial arts world of R Country."

Their eye contact was interrupted by a burst of shrill laughter. Three young men in rumpled Brazilian suits swaggered up to their table, ties hanging loosely around their necks, and reeking of cheap whiskey.

"It must be lonely for you two ladies to drink alone~" The blond man at the head of the table leaned over, "Would you like the brothers to keep you company...?"

His voice trailed off. Aya Ikegami merely glanced at him, and the man's face flushed crimson, as if an invisible hand had gripped his throat.

"Get out." Mu Xiaoxiao maintained her sweet smile, but the words she uttered were as cold as ice.

The other two, oblivious to their companion's unusual behavior, were instead enraged by his attitude. A burly man with an earring slammed his fist on the table: "What are you pretending to be, you bitch! Do you even know who we are?"